Floodlight bracket



March 20, 1945. J. w. MAIER 2,371,903

FLOODLIGHT BRACKET Filed Aug. 26, 1943 Patented Mar. 20, 1945 1,

a Application August 26, isi'aiserial No; 500,121

- 10mm; (01. 2484226)"; I

The present inventionflrelatesto a floodlight bracket and more particularly to an adjustable floodlight bracket and floodlight combination adapted to be rapidly mountedand adjusted in position to direct light upon the Work in a man her to conform readily todim-Qut regulations in shipyards, airplane manufacturing plants; and other manufacturing plants, particularly those engaged'in the production of'war materials r quiring substantially continuous production. j

' In large-scale manufacturing operations, as in the building of ships, in which'continuousoper 'ation is required, it is impracticaltomaintain' the required illumination throughout a plant tog'eth-y er with provision for f blackouts or to'conform .to dim-out'regulations, and the provision of sufficient illumination with the necessity of shifting the location of the work to provide for the carrying out of subsequent operations, after each operation has'been completed, has been not only difficult, but time consuming, resulting in a slow down of operations. Q One of the objects light combination which'm'ay be readily mounted upon fixed objects which are generally'available in manufacturing plants, such assupporting col- 'uinns, beams, and the "like, and which may be g of thepresentinventionis to provide a form "of floodlight support and floodfinal' clamping or adjusting means having lever means for app ying a high tightening force in the final secured position, so as to prevent any I accidental displacement of the bracket.

Referring more in'detail' to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates the adjustable floodlight readily carried ortransported from one location to another in a plant, factory or other building in which it is to be used. 1 I g I Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a form of floodlight support and floodlight comthe direction of illumination'inboth a; vertical and horizontal plane, so' that, as theworlk' is binatlon which may be rigidly fixed in a desired position upon a column, beam'or other support 35 shifted in position or turned, the direction of the light maybe accordingly changed to provide the desired path of illumination. I if Another object of the invention is to" provide a form of fio'odlight bracket which is'simple'in operation and rugged in construction so that it may be operated and used by substantially any class of help, whetherjskilled or unskilled, and which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost of production. f i j p [Another object of the'inventidn'is to provide a form of floodlight bracket upon which a floodlight maybe readily. mounted infadjustable position and which is provided with mounting 'ineans' adapted to be readily moved into fthedesired approximate position f or fitting. approximately a column or beam of anyordinary size and with 1 The invention I ,With' 'these and other objects in View, the invention comprises the various features hereinafter mor'e fully explained and defined in the annexed claims. I

' is illustrated in its preferred 'fo'r'min'the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

" Fig. Us 'a view in elevation showing the floodlight bracket and floodlight combination, illustrating'the manner in'which the device of this invention is to be mounted upon an upright column'o'r beam; and r .Fig'fz is a detailed view in perspective of the adjustable floodlight bracket of the invention, "showiiigthe detailed construction thereof.

bracket of the invention as a' whole and the numeral 4 designatesthe adjustable floodlight or lighting fixture. I

, The fioodlight bracket inits preferred form comprises a main frame member or portion 6, in the form of .an angle iron having the main frame extension 8' and a short arm member I!) trarisversej'thereto, or in other words, bent at right angles to the main frame portion. Connected to the outer side of the main frame portion 8 and preferably welded thereto, is a proj'ection or bass member l2 having an opening '14 therein in which the flo odlight or lighting fixture may be mounted and fixed in adjustable position. t

In order to provide means for obtaining an approximate fit on thecolumn or beam on which the fioodlight bracket is to be mounted, so that ti-relatively slight movement of parts will sufiice 'tdlbrin'g the supporting members into holding engagement with the column or beam, a movable or slidable arm member 28 bent in the form of an angle iron, and having a part 30 adapted for sliding engagementwith the under side of the main frame'portion' 8, and a transverse part 32 atrightangles thereto are employed, which are adapted to cooperate with the arm member 10' and the support 48 in the manner hereinafter described, In order to obtain the approximate fit,'a'series of notches.l6,'|8, 20,22 and 24 are provided along one edge 9 of the main portion 8, preferably the upper edge when the bracket isv mounted-with the lever member 46 to the right-as shown in Fig. 1; Pivotally mounted on thetransverse part 32 isa bar member or pawl frame, lateral extensions 38 and 44 may be bent around the main frame'member 8, so that the part 32 may be moved backward and forward over the under surface of the said member. It will be understood'that'a sepafi fitegririg' member might be used forthi's purpose, although the construction illustrated is simpler in operation and constructional features. In order to hold me position, the end 2! of the pawl or pin member 'onto the upper side of the nipple so as to hold the nipple in place in the said opening. The 45 degree elbow 60 is then screwed into place on the upper or exposed end of the nipple 54, so that the elbow is turned outwardly from the bracket as .shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Another nipple B2 is then screwed into the upper end of the elbow or 45 degree pipe fitting 60, and

locknuts 64 and G6 are provided over the nipple 62 to hold the parts in fixed adjusted position. Ih order to attach the nooalikht or lighting fixtore, the electric socliet 68 is then screwed in place on the nipple 62 so that the reflector 52 "extends outwardly from the plane of the bracket slidable member 32 in the approximatezafiiusted'glig the locknuts are screwed into place so that p the fioodlight or lighting fixture is rigidly secured 2B is inserted into the nearest notch. as 22 which permits the transverse armamembers II O and 32 to extend beyond the adjacent sides or the column or beam on which the bracketis to 'be mounted.. I-t wil1. be apparent that. vwhenthe bracket isheld. in theipositi'on indicated'in I o the drawing. th barme'inber or pawl. will be held by gravity in-engaged position in a notch until it isifliflied out. of engagement. therewith I in. order to obtain the'ciesire'd lever action. in securiiigme bracket member infits' rural adjusted position, a lever member 4'6" is provided, which is screwthreaded. along one arm thereofat 31,.a'nd passesi'throu'gh. an. internalIy serewtlireaded' boss lilf lridliiltdorilthe arm member m so aS to ex tend. at. right}, anglesv to the inner surface of. the transverse. arm member 32. Tl'ie'screwthreatfed portion or the lever member 4B is provided at its'ext'ime' endwith a knot member mnavin acurved. outer. surface for engagement; with the flat-surface of a. column or bea'in' on which the i fiwSifiO H;

Assuming that the floodlight is to be moved from one position to another in a plant so as 'b'racketis. mounted. If. a wooden beam. or'. pdst iausedib'r. mounting the bracket member thereon, the/knob fineinberfwilli be forced inwardly by' inansof the lei era'cti'on. ofthe lever and' the screw sothatItl-ie bracket member will'be tom re lace by a'relatiirely high lei'rerage'v force It willibe understood-that the knob member may e mountedg'on. the nd loffthe lever member. 4a

ih'ariy qesiredimannor,ytut it'is preferably so mounted thatfthegeiid dfthe leylerarm turns on tfiadjadfltsidbf th'linoh sotii'at the outer oontaotmgzra e offtl'ie knob. does notlturn on the face ofiffifi Befamfon. column with which. it is in .Q i fi V In orderv to. provide. an adjustable mounting; for the fioodliht. or light. oiitl'ie. bracket, I. prefer.- son/ employ adjii'stableholdihgmans which may be readily fixed" in position on the braclie't and whichis adapted to be moved in a planesub' staritiallyat right angles to. theplane ofmovemerit. ofthe'. bracket r'nember,- so astfo' provide in effect. auniyersal-ioint support for. the floodli'ght oitlighti'ng element. o this" purpose, the light 1 1 fixture including the reflector 52 and fittings {may be fixed or attached to the. boss oriexten sioii l21by means of" a45' degree elbow Elfin such a'marmer as to permit relatit'e movement or swinging movement in the. 45 degree plane or bone about. a vertical axis passing, tliroughtlie opening! 41 The detailedoonstructionwhichis preferably employed". ma be. describedwith. ref} to obtainlight directly on the work which is to be. operated upon. The handle of the lever 46 is u-iisdrewed'so that'thebracl ietf may be removed f'romti"i 'av beami ori post 50'. The plug connected to the cord 10' is pulled out or the electric light. receptacle and is then plugged in. an outletbox near the work which is t'obe lighted. The floodifghutraolret may the'ribe. mounted on the nearest olumn, beam or post whether it extend's vertically or iioii'2iontal'ly',. although a rigid veit'i'cal' timber is preferred. that a vertical domain is Ioc'atednear'tiiework', the hairdle 46 is ii'r'st' unscrewed so as to onnathe' knob ,4? near the inner surface of the arm f0. If the olumn is three indies thick}. for example, the

slidatie memter'tz moved so that the distance between the arm 3'2 and the knob is is a little more than three inches and the bracket is then placed around the team or column and the lockmg. tarot pawl 23' is then ropped into the proper slotlthe main frame member of the bracket havi ng; beenplaced so that the edge 9' containing the slots isl'ippermos't. The handle of the lever 46 is-thenturnedso that the knob 48' is pressed onto-the face of. the colurnriand the points" or proi'ections" 34" and 3'6 at the ends" of the arm 32 penetrate or. firmly gripthe surface of the coliimrifwi th. which they are in contact, and the goodnight iszthen field firmly pdsifitin so as 'not to be accidentally displaced without the apnotation of edi'is'ifilalil'efbfd 0? caused to Swing or be movedby windor drafts.

i If it is desired to chaiige the direction, or; the doodlight-in a vertical positiom as up or down,

it it necessary only to. lbos'enthe' bracket tension 1 h'aiidl'e Eli an'd' then tilt the light up or down in the desired direction and again tighten the nandie by turning, it into secured position. If it. is de red to swing ttefi'ooqlight to the rig-ht or Ieft .tfipli'l' (if the 45 degree donibal sll-rface other plane; depending on thee'xt'e'nt' ofthe bend of" the elbow member. 601. all" that isrequire'dis toloosen the upper ioclinut'iflaridswing. the light through. the proper angle so that the light falls ontiierwork' and'tlien tighten tYie' said uDper look-- but trio. place. j e n It be understoodthat various changes or modifications may be made iii-the device as above described and as i'ilustratedin the drawingw'ithoutdepartingirom the spirit'orscope of the invention as defined in the. annexed claim. For example, in p ace or the 45' degree pipe fitting or elbow GU11 misfit employarigh't. angled fitting or are degreeelbow or other-fitting. as-migh-t be required reconnection with some specialized work requiring. lighting. from a definite angle,

depending on the nature of the operation re-' quired on the work. It is to be understood, also, that in place of the handle 46 as shown, a crank having a handle extension at right angles to the extension 46 might be used, and other similar modifications may obviously be made by those skilled in the art in other parts of the structure of my invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined. As illustrated in the drawing, and as above described, the locking bar 26 is preferably pivotally mounted on the inside of the transverse member 32, so as to be adjacent the beam or timber to which the floodlight bracket is to be attached. It has been found by experiment that there is more danger of the locking bar 25 being dislodged or broken off if it is mounted on the outside of the transverse member 32, or away from the beam or timber on which the bracket is mounted. It is to be understood that the locking bar is only a safety feature, as the flood-light bracket locks itself on any beam which is four inches or more in thickness. In the ordinary dimensions of the fioodlight bracket, the locking bar may be only an inch and a half long, and in its hinged position on the transverse jaw member 32, it gives an inch and three quarters clearance to the points 34 and 3B of the jaw. In the same size bracket, the locking bar may be made an inch long so as to give an additional half inch clearance from the points 34 and 36, or other suitable dimensions may be used as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to definite dimensions or proportions except as defined by the claim annexed hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A fioodlight and fioodlight bracket combination adapted for use in structures subject to dimout regulations which comprises an angle-bracket frame member having a longitudinally extending body portion and a fixed transverse jaw portion, a series of spaced indentations along one lateral edge of the main body portion, a movable transverse jaw member slidably mounted on said body portion, a locking member adapted to cooperate with said indentations for locking the said transverse 'aw member in a fixed position relative to the body member, said locking member being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on one face of said slidable transverse jaw member for movement into and out of engaging relation with said indentations, a screw member mounted on said fixed jaw portion for movementat rightangles thereto for locking the bracket in position, a lever connected to said screw member for screwing and unscrewing the same, swivel mounting means connected to said angle bracket frame member, and a fioodlight connected to said swivel mounting means, said swivel mounting means including an elbow mounting member having threaded portions thereon and locknuts fitting the said threaded portions for locking the fioodlight in a fixed angular'position with respect to the body portion of the bracket.

JOHN W. MAIER. 

